title: Correlation between the iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc content in adolescent girls' hair and their academic records.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between school academic records and the iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc content in adolescent girls' hair.
  
  
  METHODS
  The iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc content in hair samples from 148 adolescent girls was determined by atomic absorption spectrometer. Their academic records from 2 school semesters were interrelated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a positive correlation between magnesium (r = 0.20; p = 0.016), and zinc (r = 0.31; p = 0.001) content in the hair and academic records. Conversely, the academic records had an inverse correlation with the potassium content (r = -0.23; p = 0.019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The content of magnesium, potassium, and zinc in adolescent girls' hair has a certain correlation with their learning performance. The exact effects of these three trace elements on adolescent learning performance warrants further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Holistic Education Center, St. John's University, No. 499, Sec. 4, Danjin Rd., Danshuei Township, Taipei County 251, Taiwan (R.O.C.). wang6860@mail.sju.edu.tw
authors.forename: Chin-Thin
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yingjeng James
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fu-Jin
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Bee-Tsu
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D007858:Learning; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium